Stackable package and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A package is formed from a pair of rectangular panels, one having greater length than the other, and being in overlying relationship with respect thereto. The ends of the panels are constrained so that each is bowed slightly with the same chordal distance between the ends, the longer panel being thereby spaced from the shorter one. Each of the panels has side panel segments defined by a score line extending longitudinally of the panels and between opposite ends thereof. Upon curving of the rectangular panels as aforesaid, the side panel segments are brought into contacting relationship and are secured together by adhesive material. In bringing the side panel segments into contact, a pair of opposite side flanges for the receptacle is formed, these aiding in the stacking of the finished receptacle. In a preferred form of the invention the two rectangular panels may be foldably connected and the distal ends thereof secured together by adhesive.

United States Patent 11 1 Murray et a1.

1451 Feb. 5, 1974 STACKABLE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME [75] Inventors: Lowell C. Murray; John M. l-loge,

both of Fort Wayne, 1nd.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,585

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,637,130 1/1972 Farquhar 229/8 97,265 11/1869 Armstrong ISO/2.5 359,435 3/1887 Elliot 229/8 UX 580,447 4/1897 Besuner 206/65 K 2,964,227 12/1960 Goldscholl 229/21 3,089,590 5/1963 Mell 229/8 3,369,727 2/1968 Wright 229/8 3,474,950 10/1969 Wharton, Jr. 206/65 K Dl24,755 1/1941 Voorhis 206/65 K FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 229/ 16 884,121 12/1961 Great Britain 229/8 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carpenter, Ostis &

Lindberg 5 7 ABSTRACT A package is formed from a pair of rectangular panels, one having greater length than the other, and being in overlying relationship with respect thereto. The ends of the panels are constrained so that each is bowed slightly with the same chordal distance between the ends, the longer panel being thereby spaced from the shorter one. Each of the panels has side panel segments defined by a score line extending longitudinally of the panels and between opposite ends thereof. Upon curving of the rectangular panels as aforesaid, the side panel segments are brought into contacting relationship and are secured together by adhesive material. In bringing the side panel segments into contact, a pair of opposite side flanges for the receptacle is formed, these aiding in the stacking of the tinished receptacle.

In a preferred form of the invention the two rectangular panels may be foldably connected and the distal ends thereof secured together by adhesive.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 5 FIGJ 8 m A M A B B 8 I B Wm C B C 0 0 n. 0 0

' IIIIIIIIIIIIIII STACKABLE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION et al. 3,343,743, Sept. 26, 1967, 229/21; Seiferth et al.," 3,381,885, May 7, 1968, 229/53.

It may be noted that none of the patents teaches the use of a pair of curved panels having side panel segments foldable to position from the rectangular panels andiiito adhei'ed sealing engagement. Mell 3 ,089,590 teaches a pair of opposed side panel segments, but

. these are notjoined in face-to-face relationship as is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention herein comprehends both a stackable package and the method for making same. The structure according to the present invention comprehends a pair of curved rectangular panels, the overlying panel being somewhat greater in length than the underlying panel, and the two panels being constrained to have like chordal distances whereby the upper, longer panel is spaced a small amount from the lower, shorter panel. Both of the panels have side panel segments defined by score lines extended from opposite ends thereof, the panel segments being foldable with respect to their panels along the score lines to position in secured faceto-face relationship. By reason of the curving of the main panels and the formation of the dependent panel segments, a receptacle or envelope is formed having good stacking qualities.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank of pa-' perboard or the like for forming a package according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the manner in which the blank of FIG. 1 may be positioned in a fixture to aid in the forming of the package;

FIG. 3 is a view of the fixture showing the manner in which it is employed;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the finished package;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing how the packages may be stacked;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. looking in the. direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternate manner of scoring the blank.

The improved package according to the present invention is denoted by the reference numeral 10, see FIG. 4, and is formed from a cut and scored blank 10A of paperboard or the like, see FIG. 1. The blank 10A consists of a first rectangular panel 11 foldably connected along a fold line 12 to a second rectangular panel 13. The width of the second rectangular panel13 is slightly greater than the width of the first rectangular panel 11, and the length thereof is likewise slightly greater than the first panel 11.

First rectangular panel 11 has side panel segments 14, l4,each defined by a curved score line 16 extending longitudinally of the panel 11 and between opposed ends thereof. In the same fashion, the second rectangular panel 13 has side panel segments 17, 17, each being defined by a curved score line 18 extending longitudinally of the second panel 13 and between opposed ends thereof. As best seen in FIG. 5, each of the panels 11 and 13 include a central portion M and opposed end portions E, respectively.

The two panels 11 and 13 have perforations 19 in the distal ends thereof, these falling into register in the assembly of the packages as will now be described.

Referring now to FIG. 2,'there is shown a fixture F consisting of a base plate 21 having an abutment 22 at each end thereof. The lower panel 11 is placed in position between the spaced abutments 22, 22, and the distance therebetween is such as to form a curve therein, such curvature causing the panel segments 14, 14 to be bent downward along the curved score lines 16 as seen in FIG. 2. A liner pin 23 extends upward from the base plate 21, and the perforation 19 of the lower panel 11 is placed over the liner pin 23.

Referring back to FIG. 1, both panels 11 and 13 are provided with glue patches GP as shown enabling the two panels 11 and 13 to be held together adhesively.

Referring back to FIG. 2, when the lower panel 11 adopts the curved configuration seen, a flat, flexible article A is placed on the panel 11 in the unglued portions thereof seen in FIG. 1 (those areas not denoted by the symbol GP). Thereafter, when article A is loaded on the panel 11, the second rectangular panel 13 is folded with respect to the lower panel 11 about the fold line 12 in overlying position with respect to the lower panel 11. Proper orientation of the upper panel 13 with respect to the lower panel is achieved by means of the lining pin 23 seen in FIG. 2.

By reason of the distance between the two abutments 22, 22, and the longer dimension of the panel 13, as compared to the' lower panel 11, panel 13 adopts a curved configuration wherein ,it is spaced from the lower panelto provide a cavity C therebetween, see FIGS. 6 and 7.

By reason 'of the curving of the two panels 1 1 and 13, the panel segments 14 and 17 are caused to deflect downward as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the deflection downward being along the respective score lines 16 and 18. The downward reflection of the panels 14 and 17 is assisted by laterally moving closure members 24 seen in FIG. 3. These moving toward each other in the manner shown to complete the closing operation. The side panel segments 14 and 17 are each provided with the glue patches GP to cause the respective segments 14 and 17 to adhere to each other.

Additionally, the distal portions of the panels 1 l and 13, remote from their connecting fold line 12, are caused to join by the glue patches GP between the same, the operation being assisted by a pressure shoe 26 operable adjacentone of the abutments22. It may be noted in passing that the glue patches GP are preferably of a pressure sensitive type, not requiring the use of moistening apparatus or heating for causing the same to adhere together.

Referring now to FIG. 5, each of the receptacles at the conclusion of the forming operation seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 adopts a configuration whereby each of i said receptacles may be stacked oneon top the other.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown another form of blank indicated by reference numeral 30A. It is identical in form to blank 10A of FIG. 1, except that the curved score lines 16 and 18 of FIG. 1 are replaced by segmented score lines 16A, 16B and 16C on panel 11 and segmented score lines 18A, 18B and 18C on panel 13. Segments 16B and 18B are parallel to the edges of their respective blanks, while segments 16A and 16C, and segments 18A and 18C extend from the ends of segments 16B and 18B to corners of their respective blanks.

The forming sequences described for blank 10A in FIGS. 2 and 3 apply equally as well to blank 30A and the resultant package has the same stacking qualities as the package seen in FIG. 4.

I claim:

1. A stackable package comprising:

a. top and bottom panels disposed in spaced relationship for at least portions of their lengths to define a cavity therebetween;

b. at least one of said panels having a center portion and end portions which are deflected away from said center portion;

c. said top and bottom panels each including side segments defined by one or more score lines which extend between opposite ends of the panels but not in a straight line;

d. means joining corresponding side segments of the panels to close said cavity;

e. the side segments of one panel extending beyond the other of said panels to define a hollow area and thereby enable said packages to be nestably stacked one atop another.

2. A stackable package according to claim 1 wherein one of said panels has a greater length than the other.

3. A stackable package according to claim 1 wherein one of said panels has a greater width than the other.

4. A package according to claim 1 wherein said score lines include sections parallel to said top and bottom panels, and other sections extending from the ends of said parallel sections to opposite corners of said panels.

5. A package according to claim 1 wherein said score lines extend in a continuous curve between opposed ends of the panels.

6. A package comprising:

a. a first rectangular panel having side panel segments therein each defined by a score line extending longitudinally of said panel between opposite ends and from corners thereof;

b. a second rectangular panel having a length slightly greater than the length of said first panel and having side panel segments each defined by a score line extending longitudinally of said second panel between opposite ends and from corners thereof;

c. said first panel being curved in a plane extending longitudinally thereof;

d. said second panel being curved in a similar plane extending longitudinally thereof and having a radius in such plane which is different from the radius of the first panel so that when said first and second panels are in contact along the ends thereof, a cavity is defined between said first and second panels;

c. said first and second panel segments of said first and second rectangular panels being secured together to maintain said first and second panels in such curved spaced relationship.

7. A package according to claim 6 wherein the longer of said panels has a width which is greater than the width of said second panel.

8. A package according to claim 6 wherein said panels are joined at one end thereof.

9. A package according to claim 6 wherein said score line is curved.

10. A package according to claim 6 wherein said socre lines include segments parallel to said top and bottom panels, and segments extending from the ends of said parallel segments to opposite corners of said panels. 

1. A stackable package comprising: a. top and bottom panels disposed in spaced relationship for at least portions of their lengths to define a cavity therebetween; b. at least one of said panels having a center portion and end portions which are deflected away from said center portion; c. said top and bottom panels each including side segments defined by one or more score lines which extend between opposite ends of the panels but not in a straight line; d. means joining corresponding side segments of the panels to close said cavity; e. the side segments of one panel extending beyond the other of said panels to define a hollow area and thereby enable said packages to be nestably stacked one atop another.
 2. A stackable package according to claim 1 wherein one of said panels has a greater length than the other.
 3. A stackable package according to claim 1 wherein one of said panels has a greater width than the other.
 4. A package according to claim 1 wherein said score lines include sections parallel to said top and bottom panels, and other sections extending from the ends of said parallel sections to opposite corners of said panels.
 5. A package according to claim 1 wherein said score lines extend in a continuous curve between opposed ends of the panels.
 6. A package comprising: a. a first rectangular panel having side panel segments therein each defined by a score line extending longitudinally of said panel between opposite ends and from corners thereof; b. a second rectangular panel having a length slightly greater than the length of said first panel and having side panel segments each defined by a score line extending longitudinally of said second panel between opposite ends and from corners thereof; c. said first panel being curved in a plane extending longitudinally thereof; d. said second panel being curved in a similar plane extending longitudinally thereof and having a radius in such plane which is different from the radius of the first panel so that when said first and second panels are in contact along the ends thereof, a cavity is defined between said first and second panels; e. said first and second panel segments of said first and second rectangular panels being secured together to maintain said first and second panels in such curved spaced relationship.
 7. A package according to claim 6 wherein the longer of said panels has a width which is greater than the width of said second panel.
 8. A package according to claim 6 wherein said panels are joined at one end thereof.
 9. A package according to claim 6 wherein said score line is curved.
 10. A package according to claim 6 wherein said socre Lines include segments parallel to said top and bottom panels, and segments extending from the ends of said parallel segments to opposite corners of said panels. 